Notts drugs warning after seven people collapse

Nottinghamshire Police is warning young people of the dangers of taking drugs after seven people collapsed recently.

In recent weeks police and health services have responded to a number of incidents where young people were hospitalised after taking so-called recreational drugs.

Officers are also investigating three deaths on behalf of the coroner, and whilst the cause of these deaths is not yet known it is believed there may be a connection to illegal drugs.

DCI Leona Scurr, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are trying to establish if the young people involved, at some point, were involved in so-called recreational drug use.

“While we do not yet know exactly what caused these deaths, it would be hard for our investigative team and our partner organisations to sleep at night if we did not raise our concerns with young people, parents and carers in light of this spate of collapses.

“The fact that people have died should serve as a stark warning to you if you are taking, or thinking of taking, drugs. These deaths may not be linked to drug use. However, it would be remiss of us not to warn you of this situation.”

At this stage we cannot say whether a particular drug or mix of drugs is responsible but stress that taking illegal drugs could cause you serious harm.

DCI Scurr added: “The fact is that when you buy these substances, you have no idea what they actually are and you don’t know how you will react to them - everyone is different.

“If the danger to your health isn’t enough to make you reconsider using drugs, we want to make it clear that if we find you with drugs, we will arrest you.”

Anyone with any information about drug use or supply should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.